Howaed steetghee



(No Model.)

H. STRETOHER. Adjustable Leg for Step Ladders.

No. 230,208. Pa'tented'July-20,18 80.

MPETERS. PHOTO-LIIHOGRAPHER. WASNINGTdN. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

HOWARD STBETOHER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND ALEXANDER S. STEWART, OF SAME PLACE.

ADJUSTABLE LEG FOR STEP-LADDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 230,208, dated July 20, 1880.

y Application filed June9,1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD STRETGHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Extension-Leg for Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an adjustable leg for step-ladders, in which a bar of wood pro- IO vided with clamps and set-screws operates in eonj unction with the side rails of a step-ladder; and the object of my improvement is to provide a step-ladder with adjustable extensionlegs, by means of which the ladder may be ad- 1 5 justed and stand firm on any irregular base.

This object I accomplish by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a step-ladder standing on steps, with the legs on one side of the ladder resting on one step and the other legs extended and resting on the step below. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the steps and a portion of each of the front legs of the ladder, taken at the line 00 a: of Fig. Fig. 3 is a top view of the upper socket and clamp. Fig. 4 is a top view of the lower clamp, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the extension-leg with the clamp-irons in position.

0 Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A represents any ordinary step-ladder with truss side rails, B B, and brace-rails G. F represents the adjustable leg, which is provided at its upper end with the clamp-iron D, and about midway of its length with the clamp-iron I, as shown in Fig. 5. The clampiron D is constructed similarly to that shown in Fig. 3that is, it has a socket at one end to receive and hold the upper end of the leg or bar F, and to which it is made fast. The other end of the clamp-iron D is also provided with a socket, G, which is open on one side, and provided with a lip or flange, b, to

receive and hold the rails B and G of the ladder. The clamp D, on one side of the socket G, is provided with a thumb-screw, a, and a washer, d, by means of which the clamp is made fast to the vertical side rails of the ladder, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5. The lower clamp-iron, I, is of an H form, having recesses K and L in its ends to receive the bar F and side rail of the ladder.

The side Wall of the clamp I, at one side of the space L, is provided with a thumb-screw, a, and washer d, for clamping it to the rail of the ladder, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 5.

When it is desired to lengthen out one side of the ladder in order to give it a firm footing, the thumb-screws a and a are loosened, and the bars F F moved downward the desired length, when theyrare made fast by the screws to a, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In Fig. lthe side rails on one side of the ladder are resting on the step R, while the extended legs of the 6 other side of the ladder rest on the step R below, thus supporting the ladder firmly in an upright position without resorting to the common practice of placing boxes, boards, or blocks under the legs of the ladder to level it.

By loosening the screws to a the bars F may be removed from the rails B and G, or they may be attached to the opposite sides of the same rails for convenience in folding up or carrying the ladder.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- l. The clamp-iron D, having a socket at one end to receive the bar F, and a socket, G, at the other end, with one side open, and provided with the thumb-screw a, combined with the bar F, having another clamp-iron, I, with sockets L K in its ends, and one side of the socket L provided with a thumb-screw, a, substantially as shown and described. I 8 5 2. In combination with the side rails of a step-ladder, the adjustable bar F, with clamp D secured to itsupper end and adapted to be hooked around the leg of the ladder and be made fast thereto by a set-screw,the H shaped 9o clamp I, also secured to the bar F, and adapted to straddle the rail of theladder, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub- 5 scribing witnesses.

' HOWARD STRETOHER.

Witnesses:

E. 0. FRIN G. H. BENNETT. 

